“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. (Mat 16:18 NASB)
Christian has a post this past week which should get one to thinking about some of the things that they might miss from reading only the words on the page.
Imagine being there with the disciples listening to Christ say this, and over your corner is the ‘literal’ Gate to Hades. Take a gander at Christian’s post:
Understanding Jesus Through Jewish Eyes | Homebrewed Theology.
Tags: gate of hades, Hades, Jesus Christ
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There was an interview this past weekend in the Wall Street Journal concerning Mosab Hassan Yousef, the son of Sheikh Hassan Yousej, founder and leader of Hamas, which I hope you get to read. Or you could just get the book.
I wish Christians would say the same things which Mosab is saying about Christ. Maybe, some Christians need to be liberated from their god as well.
Continue reading “They Need to Be Liberated From Their God”
Tags: hamas, Jesus Christ, Mosab Hassan Yousef
It’s an ambiguous question. Let’s see if I can give the two ways I’m hearing it.
It’s important that every sermon from a Christian preacher be a Christian sermon, that is, a sermon that, if a Jewish or Muslim person heard it, they wouldn’t like. If they like it, something is wrong with it, because they reject Christ as Messiah and crucified and risen as the forgiver of the sins of the world.
And since they reject it, if they hear a sermon that they’re totally OK with, then something is missing. The sermon should somehow communicate that this is all based on and aiming toward the work of Christ and the glory of Christ.
Read the rest here How important is it for preachers to preach Christ from every text of Scripture?.
Tags: Jesus Christ, john piper, preaching
It is necessary, therefore, to the proclamation of Jesus as Christ, that He should be proclaimed as crucified; and the proclamation that Jesus was the Christ does not seem to me so defective when any of His other miracles is passed over in silence, as when the fact of His crucifixion is passed over. Wherefore, reserving the more perfect proclamation of the things concerning Him by the Apostles, He commanded His disciples that they should tell no man that He was the Christ; and He prepared them to say that He was the Christ crucified and risen from the dead, “when He began” not only to say, nor even to advance to the point of teaching merely, but “to show”8 to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, etc.; for attend to the expression “show”; because just as sensible things are said to be shown so the things spoken by Him to His disciples are said to be shown by Jesus. And I do not think that each of the things seen was shown to those who saw Him suffering many things in body from the elders of the people, with such clearness as was the rational demonstration about Him to the disciples. – Commentary on Matthew
Tags: crucifixion, Jesus Christ
Witherington’s latest work is an 800 page masterpiece. In order to help me keep track of my thoughts on this book, and in part to showcase more of the book than a review, I am posting ‘reflections’ on each chapter.
Continue reading “Reflection: The Indelible Image – Paul The Paradigm Setter”
Tags: apostle paul, ben witherington iii, ethics, intervarsity press, Jesus Christ, new perspective on paul
When we suppress certain truths about God (his holy wrath against sin) or distort others (e.g. his love) to produce our own “designer deity”, then we are guilty of false faith, and are left with a “counterfeit God” and Gospel. Does it happen today? All day, everyday!
via Designer Deity « Irishanglican’s Weblog.
Tags: God, gospel, Jesus Christ
Today, 23 February, several communions celebrate the death of Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna on the date that Tradition has delivered to us as the day that he was burned alive for his faith.
Continue reading “The Feast Day of the Blessed Martyr Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna”
Tags: faith, God, Jesus Christ, martyr, polycarp, religion
Brian LePort has raised an important question concerning Galatians 3.1. You can find the first post here. He is dealing expressly with what some may consider a difficult passage given the rise of mysticism:
Continue reading “Translating προεγράφη in Galatians 3.1″
Tags: galatians, Jesus Christ, προεγράφη
Dr. Joel Hoffman, always available to answer biblical translation questions, has responded to another one from me. I try not to nag him, and I have a few in the hopper, but I appreciate his help:
Polycarp asks on the About page how “wonderful, counselor” of Isaiah 9:5 (9:6) should be translated.
It’s a difficult question with a longer than usual answer. But here goes.
As with “Prince of Peace,” we assume that the title “wonderful, counselor” — whatever it means — describes God after whom the child in Isaiah 9 is named, not the child himself. But translating the two-word combination is tricky.
Q&A: Who is the Wonderful Counselor? « God Didn’t Say That.
Don’t forget to check out his new book.
Tags: Isaiah, Jesus Christ, Joel Hoffman
